The grass is not greener

It was hot. It was dry. And Cathie had just spent the past 18 months watching her world turn to dust.

It's the grass in her story I remember. That and the quiet dignity of Cathie's near-tears as she spoke of a patch of green lawn around a house on a barren plain . . . and the dry that came for it.

Cathie smiles when I remind her of this story: "When you're out in those paddocks all day and come home to see the lawn, it lifts your spirits," she says.

"Drought creeps up on you. It's subtle. Slow. We live in a dry area. Is it dry or is it a drought?

"In 33 years of farming out here with my husband," she adds, "we've never been as discouraged by drought as we were with the last one."

The rains have returned, as rains do, and Cathie's lawn is greening up again. Yet this is not a story of weathered resilience, although rural resilience drives Cathie's world. It is not a story of hardship in hard times, although that is present too.

This is a story of making good with what we have.

Of renewing everyday relationships with beloved horses, who must now be hand-fed. Of taking a deep breath as the new day brings with it renewed hope.

Of making the most of the downtime in a drought to do the one thing you've longed to do for a long, long time but not had the confidence to start: write a book.

Thanks to the drought, Cathie is now halfway through her book, Diamonds in the Dust.

"The bush is filled with ordinary women doing extraordinary things," she says.

"Women out here are inspiring. They are gems. They go about their business every day, largely in the shadows, with so much of their work and lives unnoticed, and they’re mainly happy with that. They don’t expect applause or acclaim - they do what they have to do and then go on to the next thing.

"There is a wealth of capability out there, unseen and unacknowledged, and it's my hope the stories I share will inspire others.

"I originally wanted to just do farming women - then I realised there's so much more out here! These are stories that just wouldn't let me go."

Like who?

"Like Ed, who had the world at her feet yet chooses to stay; like Marg, who has such love for Herefords that it's been her whole life, and at 90 she's still doing it; like Lucy, who lost her husband in tragic circumstances yet maintained their vision and tested herself to farm; like Rose, who has a daughter with cerebral palsy and still she went droving."

Cathie is planning to launch her book at the end of October.

"It's not the bravest thing I've ever done," she says. "That was moving out here from Sydney 33 years ago when I married my husband.

"Then again, that didn't feel brave at the time, it was brave in hindsight. The book doesn't feel brave writing it - but standing in the spotlight, letting others read the stories when they're ready - that may yet prove to be the bravest thing I've ever done."

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Comments

Cath Brennan

Fantastic idea Cathie. I'll look forward to reading this one & hope to meet you one day too.

Louise Bacigalupo

Wow Cathie. Well done. Can't wait to read it.

Lynne waterford

I so look forward to reading Cathie's inspirational stories. I wholeheartedly agree with Cathie there are soooo many unheard, unnoticed, amazing women out there and always has been. Often not even with their own identity. - (Jo's wife). Theses women continually give. They are talented, very innovative & especially adaptable.
Good luck with your book and the launching of it.